The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore has officially published **IMDA TS CMT Issue 1 Revision 4**. This updated technical specification introduces two critical mandates for cellular mobile terminals sold in the Singaporean market: the default disabling of 2G and mandatory support for Emergency Cell Broadcasts.
2G Connectivity Disabled by Default
To support the full transition to spectrum-efficient 5G and future 6G networks, the IMDA requires all mobile handsets sold in Singapore to have **2G capability disabled by default** starting **December 31, 2026**. While devices may still possess the physical hardware, user settings must prevent active 2G network registration out of the box.
Mandatory Emergency Cell Broadcast Support
Effective **April 1, 2026**, all new mobile handsets submitted for type approval must support Emergency Cell Broadcast (ECB) messaging. This feature ensures that devices can receive, process, and display multi-language public safety and emergency warnings distributed by local authorities, without requiring internet connectivity.
Cybersecurity Standards for Residential Gateways
In a parallel security development, the IMDA published updated requirements for home routers (Residential Gateways) on **June 8, 2026 (Draft TS RG-SEC Issue 2)**. This standard aligns with the Cyber Security Agency's (CSA) Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme (CLS) Level 2, enforcing stricter rules for default passwords, encryption, and firmware updates.
Actions for Device Manufacturers:
- Update Firmware: Ensure handset firmware disables 2G configurations and activates ECB support prior to registration.
- Utilize the Correct Classifications: Submit registrations under the updated SDoC templates (ESER or SER pathways).
- Appoint a Dealer: All applications must be filed through a Singapore-registered entity holding a valid IMDA Dealer's License.
HertzWeg Insight:
"Singapore is leading the charge on both IoT cybersecurity and legacy cellular decommissioning. The default-disabled 2G rule is highly specific; simple hardware validation is no longer enough—firmware configurations must be explicitly modified to meet IMDA TS CMT Rev 4."
For more details on Singapore's registration pathways, check out our Singapore SER vs GER Guide or read the full Singapore Type Approval Guide.